US20050064814A1 - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Communication apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050064814A1
US20050064814A1 US10/887,862 US88786204A US2005064814A1 US 20050064814 A1 US20050064814 A1 US 20050064814A1 US 88786204 A US88786204 A US 88786204A US 2005064814 A1 US2005064814 A1 US 2005064814A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
communication apparatus
transmission
data
state
external apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
US10/887,862
Other versions
US7248834B2 (en
Inventor
Takashi Matsuo
Kunihide Fujii
Kazuyuki Sakamoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sisvel International SA
Original Assignee
Sony Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sony Corp filed Critical Sony Corp
Assigned to SONY CORPORATION reassignment SONY CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FUJII, KUNIHIDE, MATSUO, TAKASHI, SAKAMOTO, KAZUYUKI
Publication of US20050064814A1 publication Critical patent/US20050064814A1/en
Priority to US11/759,490 priority Critical patent/US7522879B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US7248834B2 publication Critical patent/US7248834B2/en
Assigned to SISVEL INTERNATIONAL S.A. reassignment SISVEL INTERNATIONAL S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SONY CORPORATION
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
    • G06K7/10237—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
    • H04N21/4126—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
    • H04N21/41265—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
    • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/435—Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
    • H04N21/4363—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
    • H04N21/43637—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
    • H04M1/72415—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories for remote control of appliances
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/12—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47214—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4786—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application e-mailing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to communication apparatuses performing near-field radio communication.
  • While portable terminals such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and notebook computers, have been advancing, and many portable terminals have been provided with radio data communication functions.
  • An inventor of this invention has proposed that near-field radio communication interfaces used in technologies for non-contact IC cards be used in such portable terminals in Matsuo, T. “Overview of Non-contact IC Card Technology ‘FeliCa’.” (in Japanese) Interface, CQ publishing Co., Ltd, (March 2003): p. 66-75.
  • Using near-field radio communication interfaces in portable terminals provides the portable terminals with functions similar to those of non-contact IC cards.
  • the portable terminals provided with the near-field radio communication interfaces are capable of operating as readers/writers to communicate with other apparatuses.
  • portable terminals When portable terminals function as readers/writers, in order to communicate with other apparatuses, the portable terminals must be positioned close to the other apparatuses and some operation input must be performed, unlike IC cards.
  • portable terminals which are small, are difficult to operate. In particular, performing an operation when portable terminals are close to other apparatuses may be very inconvenient for users.
  • the operation control unit includes a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a transmission state and an acquisition state.
  • the transmission and reception control unit transmits the data stored in the storage unit.
  • the transmission and reception control unit acquires data transmitted from the external apparatus and stores the acquired data in the storage unit.
  • the communication apparatus in order to transmit the data stored in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is set to the transmission state and is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus. Also, in the communication apparatus, in order to acquire data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is set to the acquisition state and is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus. Thus, writing the information into the external apparatus and reading the information from the external apparatus can be clearly switched. Also, since an input operation is not performed when the communication apparatus is close to the external apparatus, writing and reading of information can be easily performed.
  • the state setting part may include a first press button for setting the communication apparatus to the transmission state and a second press button for setting the communication apparatus to the acquisition state.
  • the first press button and the second press button may be provided on the outside of a casing of the communication apparatus.
  • the communication apparatus in order to transmit the data stored in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus with the first press button pressed. Also, in the communication apparatus, in order to acquire data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus with the second press button pressed.
  • writing the information into the external apparatus and reading the information from the external apparatus can be clearly switched. Also, for example, even if a user holds the communication apparatus in one hand, writing and reading can be performed.
  • the state setting part may include a display section on which a first software button and a second software button are displayed; and an input section for operating the first software button and the second software button.
  • the first software button may set the communication apparatus to the transmission state.
  • the second software button may set the communication apparatus to the acquisition state.
  • the state setting part may include a motion detector for detecting motion of the communication apparatus.
  • the communication apparatus When the communication apparatus is moved in a first direction after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus may be set to the transmission state to transmit the data stored in the storage unit.
  • the communication apparatus When the communication apparatus is moved in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus may be set to the acquisition state to acquire the data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit.
  • the operation control unit includes a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a permitted state and an inhibited state.
  • the transmission and reception control unit accepts a data acquisition request or a data write request from the external apparatus, and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external apparatus in accordance with the data acquisition request or writes data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit in accordance with the data write request.
  • the transmission and reception control unit rejects the data acquisition request or the data write request from the external apparatus, and inhibits transmission of the data stored in the storage unit or inhibits writing of the data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a conceptual drawing of a data transfer system to which the present invention is applied;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data transfer system
  • FIG. 3 explains an operation for writing data
  • FIG. 4 explains an operation for reading data
  • FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of an NFC system
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an NFC device
  • FIG. 7 explains a first usage example of the data transfer system
  • FIG. 8 explains a second usage example of the data transfer system
  • FIG. 9 explains a third usage example of the data transfer system
  • FIG. 10 shows a portable terminal provided with software buttons
  • FIG. 11 explains an action of moving a portable terminal in a direction from a principal face to a rear face
  • FIG. 12 explains an action of moving the portable terminal in a direction from the rear face to the principal face
  • FIG. 13 shows a state in which a transmission action is performed by the portable terminal with respect to an information providing apparatus
  • FIG. 14 shows a state in which a reception action is performed by the portable terminal with respect to the information providing apparatus.
  • a data transfer system 1 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described.
  • FIG. 1 is a conceptual drawing of the data transfer system 1 .
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data transfer system 1 .
  • the data transfer system 1 includes an information providing apparatus 2 , such as a television set, and a portable terminal 3 , which is a portable information processing apparatus, such as a cellular telephone.
  • an information providing apparatus 2 such as a television set
  • a portable terminal 3 which is a portable information processing apparatus, such as a cellular telephone.
  • the information providing apparatus 2 includes a content output unit 2 - 1 for outputting images, sound, and the like, a near-field communication (NFC) device 2 - 2 for performing NFC with other apparatuses, an information storage unit 2 - 3 for storing information, and a controller 2 - 4 for controlling these units.
  • the portable terminal 3 includes an information processing unit 3 - 1 serving as a main function unit, such as a telephone function unit, of the portable terminal 3 , an NFC device 3 - 2 for performing NFC with other apparatuses, an information storage unit 3 - 3 for storing information, and a controller 3 - 4 for controlling these units.
  • NFC means radio communication in which the maximum allowable communication distance between apparatuses is a predetermined value (for example, about 10 cm). NFC will be described later.
  • the portable terminal 3 also has a write button (or push button) 3 - 5 for setting a communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information transmission state; and a read button (or pull button) 3 - 6 for setting the communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information reception state.
  • the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are provided, for example, on a principal face of a casing of the portable terminal 3 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are momentary pushbutton switches and are arranged such that a user can perform a press operation with his/her thumb when holding the casing in one hand.
  • the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are arranged in a row at approximately the center of the face of the casing on which various other operation buttons are provided.
  • the user can move the portable terminal 3 held in one hand to a desired place while pressing one of the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 .
  • information can be transferred from the information storage unit 3 - 3 of the portable terminal 3 to the information storage unit 2 - 3 of the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC.
  • the portable terminal 3 is capable of writing the information into the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC.
  • information can be transferred from the information storage unit 2 - 3 of the information providing apparatus 2 to the information storage unit 3 - 3 of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC.
  • the portable terminal 3 is capable of reading the information from the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC.
  • a user positions the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 while pressing the write button 3 - 5 , as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • Positioning the portable terminal 3 close the information providing apparatus 2 means that positioning the portable terminal 3 to a place in which the portable terminal 3 can communicate with the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC.
  • the user may move the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 after pressing the write button 3 - 5 .
  • the user may press the write button 3 - 5 after moving the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • Information to be transferred may be set at the portable terminal 3 before performing the operation described above.
  • information to be acquired may be set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2 . If information to be acquired is set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2 , only necessary information from among information stored in the information storage unit 3 - 3 of the portable terminal 3 is written into the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • a user positions the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 while pressing the read button 3 - 6 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the user may move the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 after pressing the read button 3 - 6 .
  • the user may press the read button 3 - 6 after moving the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • Information to be transferred may be set at the portable terminal 3 before performing the operation described above.
  • information to be transmitted may be set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • the portable terminal 3 is provided with a user interface, that is, the write button 3 - 5 for setting a communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information transmission state; and another user interface, that is, the read button 3 - 6 for setting the communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information reception state.
  • the portable terminal 3 since the portable terminal 3 is capable of writing or reading information immediately after the portable terminal 3 becomes close to an external communication apparatus, the information can be read or written by easy operation.
  • a communication state can be set by very simple operation using the write button 3 - 5 or the read button 3 - 6 , inconvenience to users can be reduced.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of a communication system for NFC.
  • NFC is bidirectional radio communication between NFC devices 10 and 20 .
  • NFC devices 10 and 20 when a distance between the NFC devices 10 and 20 is less than or equal to the maximum allowable communication distance (for example, 10 cm or 50 cm), NFC devices 10 and 20 can communicate with each other.
  • the allowable communication distance is a distance between two NFC devices that is achieved when a user actively tries to make the NFC devices close to each other.
  • An allowable communication distance and an operation for actively making two NFC devices close to each other by a user are determined depending on the functions and characteristics of apparatuses installed with the NFC devices.
  • the operation for actively making the NFC devices close to each other may be an operation for making the NFC devices close to each other so that a distance between the NFC devices is 10 cm or less.
  • the operation for actively making the NFC devices close to each other may be an operation for making the NFC devices close to each other so that a distance between the NFC devices is 50 cm or less.
  • NFC is radio communication in which predetermined electromagnetic-wave carriers modulated using digital data are transmitted, the transmitted electromagnetic waves are received by an antenna, and the digital data modulated on the reception signal is demodulated.
  • NFC may be half-duplex communication in which two devices transmit electromagnetic waves of a common frequency.
  • NFC may be full-duplex communication in which two devices transmit electromagnetic waves of differing frequencies.
  • a carrier frequency used in NFC is, for example, a 13.56 MHz industrial, scientific, and medical band.
  • NFC is capable of data transmission in two modes: an active mode and a passive mode.
  • a transmitter transmits electromagnetic waves modulated using digital data
  • a receiver receives the modulated electromagnetic waves.
  • the passive mode the receiver generates a magnetic field of a predetermined frequency (magnetic field in which information is not demodulated) from its own loop antenna, and the transmitter changes a load value of its own loop antenna in accordance with digital data. The change in the load value causes current flowing in the loop antenna of the receiver to be changed, so that the transmitter transmits the digital data to the receiver.
  • data is transmitted based on load modulation.
  • the active mode and the passive mode use the same digital modulation and share a demodulator between them.
  • digital modulation capable of modulation even in the passive mode such as amplitude shift keying (ASK), phase shift keying (PSK), or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), is used.
  • ASK amplitude shift keying
  • PSK phase shift keying
  • QAM quadrature amplitude modulation
  • NFC communication may be used for various apparatuses, such as, a portable information processing apparatus, a personal computer, a large-sized computer, a cellular telephone, and a notebook computer. Since, in NFC communication, one of communication apparatuses does not have to be provided with a power supply (because transmission can be performed in a passive mode and electric power can be supplied based on received electric wave power), for example, an NFC device may be used in various objects, such as a card-type storage medium, a wall-mounted advertisement, and a hanging advertisement.
  • the structure of the NFC device 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 .
  • the NFC device 10 includes a loop antenna 11 .
  • the loop antenna 11 is formed of a closed loop coil.
  • a change in current flowing in the closed loop causes electromagnetic waves to be radiated from the loop antenna 11 to the outside. Also, in the loop antenna 11 , due to a change in the magnetic flux density passing in the closed loop affected by a magnetic field and an externally incident electromagnetic wave, a current corresponding to the density of the electromagnetic wave and the magnetic field flows in the closed loop.
  • the NFC device 10 includes a receiving and demodulating unit 12 for tuning and detecting current flowing in the loop antenna 11 and for demodulating a detected signal to a code string; and a decoder 13 for decoding the code string obtained by the receiving and demodulating unit 12 .
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives the current flowing in the loop antenna 11 and tunes and detects the reception signal.
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 also demodulates the tuned and detected signal in accordance with predetermined modulation (for example, ASK, PSK, or QAM) to generate the code string.
  • the code string output from the receiving and demodulating unit 12 is supplied to the decoder 13 .
  • the decoder 13 decodes the input code string in accordance with, for example, Manchester code, modified Miller, or non-return-to-zero (NRZ), to generate reception data.
  • the generated reception data is supplied to a data processing unit or the like of an apparatus installed with the NFC device 10 .
  • the NFC device 10 also includes an encoder 14 for encoding input transmission data to generate a code string; a modulating and transmitting unit 15 for performing modulation and transmission in accordance with the code string; a load modulator 16 for performing load modulation in accordance with the code string; and a carrier output unit 17 for generating carrier signal electric power.
  • the transmission data which is to be transmitted to an external communication apparatus, is input to the NFC device 10 from the data processing unit or the like of the apparatus installed with the NFC device 10 .
  • the encoder 14 encodes the input transmission data in accordance with Manchester code, modified Miller, or NRZ to generate a code string.
  • the generated code string is supplied to the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the load modulator 16 .
  • the modulating and transmitting unit 15 modulates a carrier signal at a predetermined frequency by predetermined modulation, such as ASK, PSK, or QAM, in accordance with the input code string, and amplifies the modulated signal to current-drive the loop antenna 11 .
  • the modulating and transmitting unit 15 causes the electromagnetic waves onto which information is modulated to be radiated from the loop antenna 11 to a loop antenna of the external communication apparatus, so that the information can be transmitted to the external communication apparatus.
  • the load modulator 16 performs load modulation by changing the impedance of the loop antenna 11 when regarding the loop antenna 11 as a coil in accordance with the input code string.
  • the load modulator 16 is capable of transmitting information to the external communication apparatus by changing current in the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus when a magnetic field at a predetermined frequency is generated around the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus and the loop antenna 11 is within the magnetic field.
  • the carrier output unit 17 amplifies a signal corresponding to a carrier at a predetermined frequency to current-drive the loop antenna 11 , and electromagnetic waves at the predetermined frequency onto which information is not modulated is radiated from the loop antenna 11 . Accordingly, a magnetic field at the predetermined frequency is generated around the loop antenna 11 .
  • the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus is within the magnetic field and load modulation is performed by the external communication apparatus, current flowing in the loop antenna 11 is changed, so that the information can be received from the external communication apparatus.
  • the NFC device 10 also includes a power supply 18 and a control unit 19 .
  • the power supply 18 supplies DC voltage to each of the units of the NFC device 10 and the whole apparatus installed with the NFC device 10 . If electric power is supplied from a battery or the like, the power supply 18 generates a DC voltage based on the electric power. If electric power is not supplied from a buttery or the like, the power supply 18 detects electric power from the loop antenna 11 to generate a DC voltage based on the electric power. In other words, if electric power is not supplied from a buttery or the like, the power supply 18 generates a DC voltage based on electric power of electromagnetic waves radiated from an external communication apparatus.
  • the control unit 19 controls each of the units constituting the NFC device 10 .
  • the NFC device 10 operates as described below during transmission and reception.
  • transmission data is input to the NFC device 10 .
  • the modulating and transmitting unit 15 drives the loop antenna 11 .
  • the encoder 14 and the modulating and transmitting unit 15 operate, but the receiving and demodulating unit 12 , the decoder 13 , the load modulator 16 , and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • transmission data is input to the NFC device 10 .
  • the load modulator 16 changes the impedance of the loop antenna 11 .
  • the encoder 14 and the load modulator 16 operate, but the receiving and demodulating unit 12 , the decoder 13 , the modulating and transmitting unit 15 , and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • transmission may be performed by selectively changing between the active mode and the passive mode.
  • the NFC device 10 may be arranged such that transmission operation is performed only in the active mode or only in the passive mode. If transmission operation is performed only in the active mode, since the load modulator 16 is unnecessary, a function of the load modulator 16 may always be suspended or the load modulator 16 may be omitted. If transmission operation is performed only in the passive mode, since the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 are unnecessary, functions of the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 may always be suspended or the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 may be omitted.
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 For reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode, electromagnetic waves radiated from the external communication apparatus causes current to flow in the loop antenna 11 .
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives and demodulates a transmitted signal in accordance with the current flowing in the loop antenna 11 , and the decoder 13 decodes the demodulated signal to output reception data.
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 and the decoder 13 operate, but the encoder 14 , the modulating and transmitting unit 15 , the load modulator 16 , and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • the carrier output unit 17 For reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode, the carrier output unit 17 causes electromagnetic waves (magnetic field) at a predetermined frequency of a predetermined electric power to be generated from the loop antenna 11 . Thus, a current corresponding to load modulation of the external communication apparatus flows in the loop antenna 11 .
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives and demodulates a transmitted signal in accordance with the current flowing in the loop antenna 11 , and the decoder 13 decodes the demodulated signal to output reception data.
  • the receiving and demodulating unit 12 , the decoder 13 , and the carrier output unit 17 operate, but the encoder 14 , the modulating and transmitting unit 15 , and the load modulator 16 do not operate.
  • the NFC device 10 may be arranged such that reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode and reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode can be performed. Alternatively, the NFC device 10 may be arranged such that only data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode or only data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode can be received. If an external communication apparatus operates only in the active mode, since the carrier output unit 17 is unnecessary, the function of the carrier output unit 17 may always be suspended or the carrier output unit 17 may be omitted.
  • the NFC devices described above and NFC for the NFC devices are used for the information providing apparatus 2 and the portable terminal 3 .
  • FIG. 7 shows a conceptual drawing of the first usage example.
  • the portable terminal 3 (in this case, a cellular telephone) acquires information on a television program from a promotion poster 20 , and the acquired program information is reflected on a television set 21 having an NFC function.
  • An advertisement on the television program is prepared on the poster 20 for the street, and a memory in which an NFC device and the information on the television program are stored is provided on the poster 20 (step S 11 ).
  • a user who sees the poster 20 moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3 ) to the poster 20 while pressing the read button 3 - 6 of the portable terminal 3 . Then, the program information stored in the poster 20 is transferred to the portable terminal 3 via the NFC (step S 12 ).
  • the user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3 ) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3 - 5 of the portable terminal 3 .
  • This causes the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 to be transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S 13 ).
  • the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by a video server 22 (step S 14 ).
  • FIG. 8 is a conceptual drawing of the second usage example.
  • the portable terminal 3 acquires information on a television program transmitted via mail from a cellular telephone 23 of a third party, and the acquired program information is reflected on the television set 21 .
  • the information on the television program is transferred via mail from the cellular telephone 23 to the portable terminal 3 , and the program information is stored in the portable terminal 3 (step S 21 ).
  • a user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3 ) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3 - 5 of the portable terminal 3 . Then, the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 is transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S 22 ).
  • the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by the video server 22 (step S 23 ).
  • FIG. 9 is a conceptual drawing of the third usage example.
  • the portable terminal 3 acquires information on a television program via the NFC from the cellular telephone 23 having an NFC function of a third party, and the acquired program information is reflected on the television set 21 .
  • the information on the television program is stored in the cellular telephone 23 , which has the NFC function (step S 31 ).
  • a user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3 ) to the cellular telephone 23 while pressing the read button 3 - 6 of the portable terminal 3 .
  • This causes the program information stored in the cellular telephone 23 to be transferred to the portable terminal 3 via the NFC (step S 32 ).
  • the user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3 ) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3 - 5 of the portable terminal 3 .
  • This causes the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 to be transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S 33 ).
  • the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by the video server 22 (step S 34 ).
  • the data transfer system 1 is capable of writing and recording data very easily.
  • the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are provided on the principal face of the casing of the portable terminal 3 in the embodiment described above, the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are not necessarily limited to such physical buttons. Software buttons displayed on a display may realize the same functions as those of the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 .
  • a software write button 32 - 1 and a software read button 32 - 2 realize the same functions as those of the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 shown in FIG. 1 , respectively. More specifically, for example, the software write button 32 - 1 and the software read button 32 - 2 are displayed near the lower side of a liquid crystal display 31 .
  • the portable terminal 30 is also provided with an operation input unit including a rotary pressure switch (jog dial) 33 , a right shift key 34 , a left shift key 35 , and the like. In order to move a cursor or a highlighted area displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 , such an operation input unit is operated.
  • the portable terminal 30 when the software write button 32 - 1 or the software read button 32 - 2 displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 is selected by moving a cursor or a highlighted area using the operation input unit, the same processing as a case where the write button 3 - 5 or the read button 3 - 6 is pressed is performed.
  • a sensor for detecting a moving direction such as an angular velocity sensor, may be provided so that the same functions of those of the write button 3 - 5 and the read button 3 - 6 are realized in accordance with action of a portable terminal located in the allowable communication area for the NFC.
  • the portable terminal 40 includes an angular velocity sensor 41 at an upper portion inside a casing of the portable terminal 40 .
  • the angular velocity sensor 41 detects whether the upper portion of the portable terminal 40 moves at a predetermined acceleration or more in an X 1 direction shown in FIG. 11 or at a predetermined acceleration or more in an X 2 direction shown in FIG. 12 .
  • the X 1 direction is a direction that is perpendicular to a principal face 42 on which a display part and an operation input unit are provided and that is moving from the principal face 42 to a rear face.
  • the X 2 direction is a direction opposite to the X 1 direction.
  • the X 1 direction and the X 2 direction may be directions of rotation of the angular velocity sensor 41 around a bottom face 43 .
  • the portable terminal 40 determines whether or not an action (transmission action) of moving the casing of the portable terminal 40 closer to the information providing apparatus 2 , as shown in FIG. 13 , is performed on the basis of a result detected by the angular velocity sensor 41 . If the transmission action is performed, the portable terminal 40 transfers data stored in the portable terminal 40 to the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • the portable terminal 40 determines whether or not an action (reception action) of moving the casing of the portable terminal 40 away from the information providing apparatus 2 , as shown in FIG. 14 , is performed on the basis of a result detected by the angular velocity sensor 41 . If the reception action is performed, the portable terminal 40 receives data from the information providing apparatus 2 .
  • the write button 3 - 5 or the read button 3 - 6 is accidentally pressed when the portable terminal 3 is close to the information providing apparatus 2 , reading or writing of information is performed against a user's wish.
  • a protect function may be provided in the portable terminal 3 .
  • the protect function may be realized by providing, for example, a software switch or a physical button.
  • the protect function provided in the portable terminal 3 disables reading or writing of information against the user's wish, and this increases the security.
  • Application of such a protect function is not necessarily limited to the portable terminal 3 .
  • Such a protect function may be used in any apparatus using the NFC device.

Abstract

A portable terminal includes a near-field communication (NFC) device for performing information communication via near-field communication; a write button; and a read button. In order to write information stored in the portable terminal into an information providing apparatus, a user moves the portable terminal close to the information providing apparatus such that a distance between the portable terminal and the information providing apparatus is 10 cm or less while pressing the write button. In order to read information stored in the information providing apparatus into the portable terminal, a user moves the portable terminal close to the information providing apparatus such that a distance between the portable terminal and the information providing apparatus is 10 cm or less while pressing the read button.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to communication apparatuses performing near-field radio communication.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Functions of portable terminals, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and notebook computers, have been advancing, and many portable terminals have been provided with radio data communication functions. An inventor of this invention has proposed that near-field radio communication interfaces used in technologies for non-contact IC cards be used in such portable terminals in Matsuo, T. “Overview of Non-contact IC Card Technology ‘FeliCa’.” (in Japanese) Interface, CQ publishing Co., Ltd, (March 2003): p. 66-75. Using near-field radio communication interfaces in portable terminals provides the portable terminals with functions similar to those of non-contact IC cards. In addition, the portable terminals provided with the near-field radio communication interfaces are capable of operating as readers/writers to communicate with other apparatuses.
  • When portable terminals function as readers/writers, in order to communicate with other apparatuses, the portable terminals must be positioned close to the other apparatuses and some operation input must be performed, unlike IC cards. However, portable terminals, which are small, are difficult to operate. In particular, performing an operation when portable terminals are close to other apparatuses may be very inconvenient for users.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • In order to solve the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus that is capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus and that can read and write data by easy operation.
  • A communication apparatus according to the present invention capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus includes an antenna; a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus; a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna; a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit; a storage unit for storing data; and an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user.
  • The operation control unit includes a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a transmission state and an acquisition state. When the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the transmission state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit transmits the data stored in the storage unit. When the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the acquisition state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit acquires data transmitted from the external apparatus and stores the acquired data in the storage unit.
  • In the communication apparatus, in order to transmit the data stored in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is set to the transmission state and is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus. Also, in the communication apparatus, in order to acquire data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is set to the acquisition state and is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus. Thus, writing the information into the external apparatus and reading the information from the external apparatus can be clearly switched. Also, since an input operation is not performed when the communication apparatus is close to the external apparatus, writing and reading of information can be easily performed.
  • The state setting part may include a first press button for setting the communication apparatus to the transmission state and a second press button for setting the communication apparatus to the acquisition state. The first press button and the second press button may be provided on the outside of a casing of the communication apparatus.
  • In the communication apparatus, in order to transmit the data stored in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus with the first press button pressed. Also, in the communication apparatus, in order to acquire data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit, the communication apparatus is moved close to the external apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with the external apparatus with the second press button pressed. Thus, writing the information into the external apparatus and reading the information from the external apparatus can be clearly switched. Also, for example, even if a user holds the communication apparatus in one hand, writing and reading can be performed.
  • The state setting part may include a display section on which a first software button and a second software button are displayed; and an input section for operating the first software button and the second software button. The first software button may set the communication apparatus to the transmission state. The second software button may set the communication apparatus to the acquisition state.
  • The state setting part may include a motion detector for detecting motion of the communication apparatus. When the communication apparatus is moved in a first direction after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus may be set to the transmission state to transmit the data stored in the storage unit. When the communication apparatus is moved in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus may be set to the acquisition state to acquire the data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit.
  • Also, a communication apparatus according to the present invention capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus includes an antenna; a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus; a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna; a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit; a storage unit for storing data; and an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user.
  • The operation control unit includes a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a permitted state and an inhibited state. When the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the permitted state, the transmission and reception control unit accepts a data acquisition request or a data write request from the external apparatus, and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external apparatus in accordance with the data acquisition request or writes data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit in accordance with the data write request. When the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the inhibited state, the transmission and reception control unit rejects the data acquisition request or the data write request from the external apparatus, and inhibits transmission of the data stored in the storage unit or inhibits writing of the data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a conceptual drawing of a data transfer system to which the present invention is applied;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data transfer system;
  • FIG. 3 explains an operation for writing data;
  • FIG. 4 explains an operation for reading data;
  • FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of an NFC system;
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an NFC device;
  • FIG. 7 explains a first usage example of the data transfer system;
  • FIG. 8 explains a second usage example of the data transfer system;
  • FIG. 9 explains a third usage example of the data transfer system;
  • FIG. 10 shows a portable terminal provided with software buttons;
  • FIG. 11 explains an action of moving a portable terminal in a direction from a principal face to a rear face;
  • FIG. 12 explains an action of moving the portable terminal in a direction from the rear face to the principal face;
  • FIG. 13 shows a state in which a transmission action is performed by the portable terminal with respect to an information providing apparatus; and
  • FIG. 14 shows a state in which a reception action is performed by the portable terminal with respect to the information providing apparatus.
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • A data transfer system 1 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described.
  • FIG. 1 is a conceptual drawing of the data transfer system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data transfer system 1.
  • Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the data transfer system 1 includes an information providing apparatus 2, such as a television set, and a portable terminal 3, which is a portable information processing apparatus, such as a cellular telephone.
  • Referring to FIG. 2, the information providing apparatus 2 includes a content output unit 2-1 for outputting images, sound, and the like, a near-field communication (NFC) device 2-2 for performing NFC with other apparatuses, an information storage unit 2-3 for storing information, and a controller 2-4 for controlling these units. Also, the portable terminal 3 includes an information processing unit 3-1 serving as a main function unit, such as a telephone function unit, of the portable terminal 3, an NFC device 3-2 for performing NFC with other apparatuses, an information storage unit 3-3 for storing information, and a controller 3-4 for controlling these units. Here, NFC means radio communication in which the maximum allowable communication distance between apparatuses is a predetermined value (for example, about 10 cm). NFC will be described later.
  • The portable terminal 3 also has a write button (or push button) 3-5 for setting a communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information transmission state; and a read button (or pull button) 3-6 for setting the communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information reception state.
  • The write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are provided, for example, on a principal face of a casing of the portable terminal 3, as shown in FIG. 1. The write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are momentary pushbutton switches and are arranged such that a user can perform a press operation with his/her thumb when holding the casing in one hand. For example, the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are arranged in a row at approximately the center of the face of the casing on which various other operation buttons are provided. Thus, the user can move the portable terminal 3 held in one hand to a desired place while pressing one of the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6.
  • In the data transfer system 1, information can be transferred from the information storage unit 3-3 of the portable terminal 3 to the information storage unit 2-3 of the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC. In other words, the portable terminal 3 is capable of writing the information into the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC. Also, in the data transfer system 1, information can be transferred from the information storage unit 2-3 of the information providing apparatus 2 to the information storage unit 3-3 of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC. In other words, the portable terminal 3 is capable of reading the information from the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC.
  • In order to write information stored in the portable terminal 3 into the information providing apparatus 2, a user positions the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 while pressing the write button 3-5, as shown in FIG. 3. Positioning the portable terminal 3 close the information providing apparatus 2 means that positioning the portable terminal 3 to a place in which the portable terminal 3 can communicate with the information providing apparatus 2 via the NFC. The user may move the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 after pressing the write button 3-5. Alternatively, the user may press the write button 3-5 after moving the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2.
  • Accordingly, necessary information is automatically transferred from the portable terminal 3 to the information providing apparatus 2. Information to be transferred may be set at the portable terminal 3 before performing the operation described above. Alternatively, information to be acquired may be set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2. If information to be acquired is set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2, only necessary information from among information stored in the information storage unit 3-3 of the portable terminal 3 is written into the information providing apparatus 2.
  • In order to read information stored in the information providing apparatus 2 into the portable terminal 3, a user positions the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 while pressing the read button 3-6, as shown in FIG. 4. The user may move the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2 after pressing the read button 3-6. Alternatively, the user may press the read button 3-6 after moving the portable terminal 3 close to the information providing apparatus 2.
  • Accordingly, necessary information is automatically transferred from the information providing apparatus 2 to the portable terminal 3. Information to be transferred may be set at the portable terminal 3 before performing the operation described above. Alternatively, information to be transmitted may be set in advance at the information providing apparatus 2.
  • As described above, the portable terminal 3 is provided with a user interface, that is, the write button 3-5 for setting a communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information transmission state; and another user interface, that is, the read button 3-6 for setting the communication state of the portable terminal 3 via the NFC to an information reception state. Thus, since the portable terminal 3 is capable of writing or reading information immediately after the portable terminal 3 becomes close to an external communication apparatus, the information can be read or written by easy operation. In particular, since a communication state can be set by very simple operation using the write button 3-5 or the read button 3-6, inconvenience to users can be reduced.
  • The NFC device 2-2 and the NFC device 3-2 provided in the information providing apparatus 2 and the portable terminal 3, respectively, and NFC, which is a communication method used in the NFC device 2-2 and the NFC device 3-2, will now be described.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of a communication system for NFC.
  • As shown in FIG. 5, NFC is bidirectional radio communication between NFC devices 10 and 20.
  • In NFC, as shown in FIG. 5, when a distance between the NFC devices 10 and 20 is less than or equal to the maximum allowable communication distance (for example, 10 cm or 50 cm), NFC devices 10 and 20 can communicate with each other. The allowable communication distance is a distance between two NFC devices that is achieved when a user actively tries to make the NFC devices close to each other. An allowable communication distance and an operation for actively making two NFC devices close to each other by a user are determined depending on the functions and characteristics of apparatuses installed with the NFC devices. For example, if an NFC device is installed in a portable apparatus that is small and light enough to be held by a user in one hand, the operation for actively making the NFC devices close to each other may be an operation for making the NFC devices close to each other so that a distance between the NFC devices is 10 cm or less. If NFC devices are used for communication between a card carried by a user and a security device for a security gate when the user passes through the security gate, the operation for actively making the NFC devices close to each other may be an operation for making the NFC devices close to each other so that a distance between the NFC devices is 50 cm or less.
  • Also, NFC is radio communication in which predetermined electromagnetic-wave carriers modulated using digital data are transmitted, the transmitted electromagnetic waves are received by an antenna, and the digital data modulated on the reception signal is demodulated. NFC may be half-duplex communication in which two devices transmit electromagnetic waves of a common frequency. Alternatively, NFC may be full-duplex communication in which two devices transmit electromagnetic waves of differing frequencies. A carrier frequency used in NFC is, for example, a 13.56 MHz industrial, scientific, and medical band.
  • Also, NFC is capable of data transmission in two modes: an active mode and a passive mode. In the active mode, by supplying electric power to an antenna, a transmitter transmits electromagnetic waves modulated using digital data, and a receiver receives the modulated electromagnetic waves. In the passive mode, the receiver generates a magnetic field of a predetermined frequency (magnetic field in which information is not demodulated) from its own loop antenna, and the transmitter changes a load value of its own loop antenna in accordance with digital data. The change in the load value causes current flowing in the loop antenna of the receiver to be changed, so that the transmitter transmits the digital data to the receiver. In other words, in the passive mode, data is transmitted based on load modulation. In NFC, the active mode and the passive mode use the same digital modulation and share a demodulator between them. In other words, in NFC, digital modulation capable of modulation even in the passive mode, such as amplitude shift keying (ASK), phase shift keying (PSK), or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), is used.
  • Also, in NFC, when information is transmitted in the passive mode or when information transmitted in the active mode is received, electric power supplied due to electromagnetic induction by received electromagnetic waves operates an internal electric circuit. Thus, when information is transmitted in the active mode, a sufficient amount of transmission electric power is ensured so that a sufficient amount of electric power can be supplied within the allowable communication distance described above on the assumption that a receiver does not have internal electric power.
  • The physical characteristics of NFC have been described above.
  • NFC communication may be used for various apparatuses, such as, a portable information processing apparatus, a personal computer, a large-sized computer, a cellular telephone, and a notebook computer. Since, in NFC communication, one of communication apparatuses does not have to be provided with a power supply (because transmission can be performed in a passive mode and electric power can be supplied based on received electric wave power), for example, an NFC device may be used in various objects, such as a card-type storage medium, a wall-mounted advertisement, and a hanging advertisement.
  • The structure of the NFC device 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.
  • The NFC device 10 includes a loop antenna 11.
  • The loop antenna 11 is formed of a closed loop coil. A change in current flowing in the closed loop causes electromagnetic waves to be radiated from the loop antenna 11 to the outside. Also, in the loop antenna 11, due to a change in the magnetic flux density passing in the closed loop affected by a magnetic field and an externally incident electromagnetic wave, a current corresponding to the density of the electromagnetic wave and the magnetic field flows in the closed loop.
  • Also, the NFC device 10 includes a receiving and demodulating unit 12 for tuning and detecting current flowing in the loop antenna 11 and for demodulating a detected signal to a code string; and a decoder 13 for decoding the code string obtained by the receiving and demodulating unit 12.
  • The receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives the current flowing in the loop antenna 11 and tunes and detects the reception signal. The receiving and demodulating unit 12 also demodulates the tuned and detected signal in accordance with predetermined modulation (for example, ASK, PSK, or QAM) to generate the code string. The code string output from the receiving and demodulating unit 12 is supplied to the decoder 13. The decoder 13 decodes the input code string in accordance with, for example, Manchester code, modified Miller, or non-return-to-zero (NRZ), to generate reception data. The generated reception data is supplied to a data processing unit or the like of an apparatus installed with the NFC device 10.
  • The NFC device 10 also includes an encoder 14 for encoding input transmission data to generate a code string; a modulating and transmitting unit 15 for performing modulation and transmission in accordance with the code string; a load modulator 16 for performing load modulation in accordance with the code string; and a carrier output unit 17 for generating carrier signal electric power.
  • The transmission data, which is to be transmitted to an external communication apparatus, is input to the NFC device 10 from the data processing unit or the like of the apparatus installed with the NFC device 10. The encoder 14 encodes the input transmission data in accordance with Manchester code, modified Miller, or NRZ to generate a code string. The generated code string is supplied to the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the load modulator 16.
  • The modulating and transmitting unit 15 modulates a carrier signal at a predetermined frequency by predetermined modulation, such as ASK, PSK, or QAM, in accordance with the input code string, and amplifies the modulated signal to current-drive the loop antenna 11. Thus, the modulating and transmitting unit 15 causes the electromagnetic waves onto which information is modulated to be radiated from the loop antenna 11 to a loop antenna of the external communication apparatus, so that the information can be transmitted to the external communication apparatus.
  • The load modulator 16 performs load modulation by changing the impedance of the loop antenna 11 when regarding the loop antenna 11 as a coil in accordance with the input code string. Thus, the load modulator 16 is capable of transmitting information to the external communication apparatus by changing current in the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus when a magnetic field at a predetermined frequency is generated around the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus and the loop antenna 11 is within the magnetic field.
  • The carrier output unit 17 amplifies a signal corresponding to a carrier at a predetermined frequency to current-drive the loop antenna 11, and electromagnetic waves at the predetermined frequency onto which information is not modulated is radiated from the loop antenna 11. Accordingly, a magnetic field at the predetermined frequency is generated around the loop antenna 11. Thus, when the loop antenna of the external communication apparatus is within the magnetic field and load modulation is performed by the external communication apparatus, current flowing in the loop antenna 11 is changed, so that the information can be received from the external communication apparatus.
  • The NFC device 10 also includes a power supply 18 and a control unit 19.
  • The power supply 18 supplies DC voltage to each of the units of the NFC device 10 and the whole apparatus installed with the NFC device 10. If electric power is supplied from a battery or the like, the power supply 18 generates a DC voltage based on the electric power. If electric power is not supplied from a buttery or the like, the power supply 18 detects electric power from the loop antenna 11 to generate a DC voltage based on the electric power. In other words, if electric power is not supplied from a buttery or the like, the power supply 18 generates a DC voltage based on electric power of electromagnetic waves radiated from an external communication apparatus.
  • The control unit 19 controls each of the units constituting the NFC device 10.
  • The NFC device 10 operates as described below during transmission and reception.
  • For data transmission in the active mode, transmission data is input to the NFC device 10. In the NFC device 10, after the encoder 14 encodes the input transmission data, the modulating and transmitting unit 15 drives the loop antenna 11. For the data transmission in the active mode, the encoder 14 and the modulating and transmitting unit 15 operate, but the receiving and demodulating unit 12, the decoder 13, the load modulator 16, and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • For data transmission in the passive mode, transmission data is input to the NFC device 10. In the NFC device 10, after the encoder 14 encodes the input transmission data, the load modulator 16 changes the impedance of the loop antenna 11. For the data transmission in the passive mode, the encoder 14 and the load modulator 16 operate, but the receiving and demodulating unit 12, the decoder 13, the modulating and transmitting unit 15, and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • In the NFC device 10, transmission may be performed by selectively changing between the active mode and the passive mode. Alternatively, the NFC device 10 may be arranged such that transmission operation is performed only in the active mode or only in the passive mode. If transmission operation is performed only in the active mode, since the load modulator 16 is unnecessary, a function of the load modulator 16 may always be suspended or the load modulator 16 may be omitted. If transmission operation is performed only in the passive mode, since the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 are unnecessary, functions of the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 may always be suspended or the modulating and transmitting unit 15 and the carrier output unit 17 may be omitted.
  • For reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode, electromagnetic waves radiated from the external communication apparatus causes current to flow in the loop antenna 11. In the NFC device 10, the receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives and demodulates a transmitted signal in accordance with the current flowing in the loop antenna 11, and the decoder 13 decodes the demodulated signal to output reception data. For the reception of the data transmitted from the external communication apparatus that is in the active mode, the receiving and demodulating unit 12 and the decoder 13 operate, but the encoder 14, the modulating and transmitting unit 15, the load modulator 16, and the carrier output unit 17 do not operate.
  • For reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode, the carrier output unit 17 causes electromagnetic waves (magnetic field) at a predetermined frequency of a predetermined electric power to be generated from the loop antenna 11. Thus, a current corresponding to load modulation of the external communication apparatus flows in the loop antenna 11. In the NFC device 10, the receiving and demodulating unit 12 receives and demodulates a transmitted signal in accordance with the current flowing in the loop antenna 11, and the decoder 13 decodes the demodulated signal to output reception data. For the reception of the data transmitted from the external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode, the receiving and demodulating unit 12, the decoder 13, and the carrier output unit 17 operate, but the encoder 14, the modulating and transmitting unit 15, and the load modulator 16 do not operate.
  • The NFC device 10 may be arranged such that reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode and reception of data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode can be performed. Alternatively, the NFC device 10 may be arranged such that only data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the active mode or only data transmitted from an external communication apparatus that is in the passive mode can be received. If an external communication apparatus operates only in the active mode, since the carrier output unit 17 is unnecessary, the function of the carrier output unit 17 may always be suspended or the carrier output unit 17 may be omitted.
  • The NFC devices described above and NFC for the NFC devices are used for the information providing apparatus 2 and the portable terminal 3.
  • Specific usage examples: a first usage example; a second usage example; and a third usage example, for the data transfer system 1 will now be described.
  • FIG. 7 shows a conceptual drawing of the first usage example.
  • In the first usage example, the portable terminal 3 (in this case, a cellular telephone) acquires information on a television program from a promotion poster 20, and the acquired program information is reflected on a television set 21 having an NFC function.
  • An advertisement on the television program is prepared on the poster 20 for the street, and a memory in which an NFC device and the information on the television program are stored is provided on the poster 20 (step S11).
  • A user who sees the poster 20 moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3) to the poster 20 while pressing the read button 3-6 of the portable terminal 3. Then, the program information stored in the poster 20 is transferred to the portable terminal 3 via the NFC (step S12).
  • Then, after going back home, the user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3-5 of the portable terminal 3. This causes the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 to be transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S13).
  • Then, the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by a video server 22 (step S14).
  • FIG. 8 is a conceptual drawing of the second usage example.
  • In the second usage example, the portable terminal 3 (in this case, a cellular telephone) acquires information on a television program transmitted via mail from a cellular telephone 23 of a third party, and the acquired program information is reflected on the television set 21.
  • The information on the television program is transferred via mail from the cellular telephone 23 to the portable terminal 3, and the program information is stored in the portable terminal 3 (step S21).
  • A user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3-5 of the portable terminal 3. Then, the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 is transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S22).
  • Then, the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by the video server 22 (step S23).
  • FIG. 9 is a conceptual drawing of the third usage example.
  • In the third usage example, the portable terminal 3 (in this case, a cellular telephone) acquires information on a television program via the NFC from the cellular telephone 23 having an NFC function of a third party, and the acquired program information is reflected on the television set 21.
  • The information on the television program is stored in the cellular telephone 23, which has the NFC function (step S31).
  • A user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3) to the cellular telephone 23 while pressing the read button 3-6 of the portable terminal 3. This causes the program information stored in the cellular telephone 23 to be transferred to the portable terminal 3 via the NFC (step S32).
  • Then, after going back home, the user moves the portable terminal 3 close (or touches the portable terminal 3) to the television set 21 while pressing the write button 3-5 of the portable terminal 3. This causes the program information stored in the portable terminal 3 to be transferred to the television set 21 via the NFC (step S33).
  • Then, the user displays the program information, for example, to make a recording reservation or to add the program to a program list including programs to be automatically recorded every week by the video server 22 (step S34).
  • As described in the first to third usage examples, the data transfer system 1 is capable of writing and recording data very easily.
  • Modifications of the portable terminal 3 will now be described.
  • Although the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are provided on the principal face of the casing of the portable terminal 3 in the embodiment described above, the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are not necessarily limited to such physical buttons. Software buttons displayed on a display may realize the same functions as those of the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6.
  • For example, in a portable terminal 30 shown in FIG. 10, a software write button 32-1 and a software read button 32-2 realize the same functions as those of the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. More specifically, for example, the software write button 32-1 and the software read button 32-2 are displayed near the lower side of a liquid crystal display 31. The portable terminal 30 is also provided with an operation input unit including a rotary pressure switch (jog dial) 33, a right shift key 34, a left shift key 35, and the like. In order to move a cursor or a highlighted area displayed on the liquid crystal display 31, such an operation input unit is operated. In the portable terminal 30, when the software write button 32-1 or the software read button 32-2 displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 is selected by moving a cursor or a highlighted area using the operation input unit, the same processing as a case where the write button 3-5 or the read button 3-6 is pressed is performed.
  • Also, instead of providing the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 shown in FIG. 1, a sensor for detecting a moving direction, such as an angular velocity sensor, may be provided so that the same functions of those of the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are realized in accordance with action of a portable terminal located in the allowable communication area for the NFC.
  • For example, in a portable terminal 40 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the same functions as those of the write button 3-5 and the read button 3-6 are realized in accordance with a user's action. The portable terminal 40 includes an angular velocity sensor 41 at an upper portion inside a casing of the portable terminal 40. The angular velocity sensor 41 detects whether the upper portion of the portable terminal 40 moves at a predetermined acceleration or more in an X1 direction shown in FIG. 11 or at a predetermined acceleration or more in an X2 direction shown in FIG. 12. The X1 direction is a direction that is perpendicular to a principal face 42 on which a display part and an operation input unit are provided and that is moving from the principal face 42 to a rear face. The X2 direction is a direction opposite to the X1 direction. Also, the X1 direction and the X2 direction may be directions of rotation of the angular velocity sensor 41 around a bottom face 43.
  • When the portable terminal 40 is close to the information providing apparatus 2 (the distance between the portable terminal 40 and the information providing apparatus 2 is less than or equal to the allowable communication distance for the NFC) and the rear face of the casing of the portable terminal 40 faces the information providing apparatus 2, the portable terminal 40 determines whether or not an action (transmission action) of moving the casing of the portable terminal 40 closer to the information providing apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 13, is performed on the basis of a result detected by the angular velocity sensor 41. If the transmission action is performed, the portable terminal 40 transfers data stored in the portable terminal 40 to the information providing apparatus 2. Also, when the portable terminal 40 is close to the information providing apparatus 2 (the distance between the portable terminal 40 and the information providing apparatus 2 is less than or equal to the allowable communication distance for the NFC) and the rear face of the casing of the portable terminal 40 faces the information providing apparatus 2, the portable terminal 40 determines whether or not an action (reception action) of moving the casing of the portable terminal 40 away from the information providing apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 14, is performed on the basis of a result detected by the angular velocity sensor 41. If the reception action is performed, the portable terminal 40 receives data from the information providing apparatus 2.
  • Accordingly, since reading and writing of information can be performed in accordance with the user's action, easy information transfer can be realized without difficult operation.
  • For example, if the write button 3-5 or the read button 3-6 is accidentally pressed when the portable terminal 3 is close to the information providing apparatus 2, reading or writing of information is performed against a user's wish.
  • In order to avoid this, a protect function may be provided in the portable terminal 3. The protect function may be realized by providing, for example, a software switch or a physical button.
  • When the protect function is switched on, even if the portable terminal 3 is moved close to the information providing apparatus 2 with the write button 3-5 or the read button 3-6 pressed, a request for acquiring information from the information providing apparatus 2 or a request for writing information into the information providing apparatus 2 is rejected and transmission or reception of the information is thus inhibited. In contrast, when the protection function is switched off, if the portable terminal 3 is moved close to the information providing apparatus 2 with the write button 3-5 or the read button 3-6 pressed, the request for acquiring information from the information providing apparatus 2 or the request for writing information into the information providing apparatus 2 is accepted and transmission or reception of the information is permitted.
  • The protect function provided in the portable terminal 3 disables reading or writing of information against the user's wish, and this increases the security. Application of such a protect function is not necessarily limited to the portable terminal 3. Such a protect function may be used in any apparatus using the NFC device.

Claims (12)

1. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a transmission state and an acquisition state, wherein:
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the transmission state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit transmits the data stored in the storage unit; and
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the acquisition state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit acquires data transmitted from the external apparatus and stores the acquired data in the storage unit.
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the state setting part includes a first press button for setting the communication apparatus to the transmission state and a second press button for setting the communication apparatus to the acquisition state; and
the first press button and the second press button are provided on the outside of a casing of the communication apparatus.
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the state setting part includes a display section on which a first software button and a second software button are displayed; and an input section for operating the first software button and the second software button; and
the first software button sets the communication apparatus to the transmission state and the second software button sets the communication apparatus to the acquisition state.
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the state setting part includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the communication apparatus;
when the communication apparatus is moved in a first direction after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus is set to the transmission state to transmit the data stored in the storage unit; and
when the communication apparatus is moved in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus is set to the acquisition state to acquire the data transmitted from the external apparatus and to store the acquired data in the storage unit.
5. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for setting the communication apparatus to a transmission state, wherein
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the transmission state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit transmits the data stored in the storage unit.
6. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for setting the communication apparatus to an acquisition state, wherein
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the acquisition state and the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the transmission and reception control unit acquires data transmitted from the external apparatus and stores the acquired data in the storage unit.
7. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for selectively setting the communication apparatus to a permitted state and an inhibited state, wherein:
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the permitted state, the transmission and reception control unit accepts a data acquisition request or a data write request from the external apparatus, and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external apparatus in accordance with the data acquisition request or writes data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit in accordance with the data write request; and
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the inhibited state, the transmission and reception control unit rejects the data acquisition request or the data write request from the external apparatus, and inhibits transmission of the data stored in the storage unit or inhibits writing of the data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit.
8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
the state setting part includes a first press button for setting the communication apparatus to the permitted state and a second press button for setting the communication apparatus to the inhibited state; and
the first press button and the second press button are provided on the outside of a casing of the communication apparatus.
9. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
the state setting part includes a display section on which a first software button and a second software button are displayed; and an input section for operating the first software button and the second software button; and
the first software button sets the communication apparatus to the permitted state and the second software button sets the communication apparatus to the inhibited state.
10. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
the state setting part includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the communication apparatus;
when the communication apparatus is moved in a first direction after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus is set to the permitted state to transmit the data stored in the storage unit; and
when the communication apparatus is moved in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating with the external apparatus, the communication apparatus is set to the inhibited state to reject the data acquisition request or the data write request from the external apparatus.
11. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for setting the communication apparatus to a permitted state, wherein
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the permitted state, the transmission and reception control unit accepts a data acquisition request or a data write request from the external apparatus, and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external apparatus in accordance with the data acquisition request or writes data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit in accordance with the data write request.
12. A communication apparatus capable of data transmission by electromagnetic waves to an external apparatus and data transfer by load modulation with respect to electromagnetic waves transmitted from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
an antenna;
a receiving and demodulating unit for detecting current flowing in the antenna and for demodulating a reception signal received from the external apparatus;
a modulating and transmitting unit for modulating a carrier in accordance with a transmission signal to be transmitted to the external apparatus and for transmitting the modulated carrier via the antenna;
a transmission and reception control unit for controlling reception of the reception signal by the receiving and demodulating unit and transmission of the transmission signal by the modulating and transmitting unit;
a storage unit for storing data; and
an operation control unit for controlling an operation by a user, the operation control unit including a state setting part for setting the communication apparatus to an inhibited state, wherein
when the state setting part sets the communication apparatus to the inhibited state, the transmission and reception control unit rejects a data acquisition request or a data write request from the external apparatus, and inhibits transmission of the data stored in the storage unit or inhibits writing of data transmitted from the external apparatus into the storage unit.
US10/887,862 2003-07-22 2004-07-12 Communication apparatus Active 2025-08-24 US7248834B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/759,490 US7522879B2 (en) 2003-07-22 2007-06-07 Communication apparatus and associated methodology of performing operator initiated near field communication

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003277834A JP2005045557A (en) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Communication device
JP2003-277834 2003-07-22

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/759,490 Continuation US7522879B2 (en) 2003-07-22 2007-06-07 Communication apparatus and associated methodology of performing operator initiated near field communication

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050064814A1 true US20050064814A1 (en) 2005-03-24
US7248834B2 US7248834B2 (en) 2007-07-24

Family

ID=33487689

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/887,862 Active 2025-08-24 US7248834B2 (en) 2003-07-22 2004-07-12 Communication apparatus
US11/759,490 Active 2024-07-19 US7522879B2 (en) 2003-07-22 2007-06-07 Communication apparatus and associated methodology of performing operator initiated near field communication

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/759,490 Active 2024-07-19 US7522879B2 (en) 2003-07-22 2007-06-07 Communication apparatus and associated methodology of performing operator initiated near field communication

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (2) US7248834B2 (en)
EP (2) EP1501038B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005045557A (en)
CN (1) CN1578185B (en)
DE (2) DE602004030729D1 (en)
HK (1) HK1070758A1 (en)

Cited By (54)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070055633A1 (en) * 2005-09-08 2007-03-08 Sung-Rock Cheon Secure NFC apparatus and method supporting various security modules in plug-in fashion
US20070057852A1 (en) * 2005-09-15 2007-03-15 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device with integrated antenna
US20070190939A1 (en) * 2006-02-15 2007-08-16 Microsoft Corporation Means for provisioning and managing mobile device configuration over a near-field communication link
US20070203968A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2007-08-30 Searete, Llc Portable device and method for entertainment interaction data
US20070218837A1 (en) * 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Data communication in an electronic device
US20070224939A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US20070224937A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US20080046570A1 (en) * 2006-08-17 2008-02-21 Microsoft Corporation Web format-based wireless communications
US20080081601A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-04-03 Sean Moshir Dissemination of real estate information through text messaging
US20080092230A1 (en) * 2006-10-12 2008-04-17 Addy Kenneth L Method and system for controlling a security system using near field communication
US20080108324A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-05-08 Sean Moshir Methods of authorizing actions
US20080109370A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-05-08 Moshir Kevin K Extraction of information from e-mails and delivery to mobile phones, system and method
US20080133930A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-06-05 Moshir Kevin K Methods to authenticate access and alarm as to proximity to location
US20080167060A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-07-10 Sean Moshir Distribution of lottery tickets through mobile devices
US20080214111A1 (en) * 2007-03-02 2008-09-04 Celltrust Corporation Lost phone alarm system and method
US20080285755A1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2008-11-20 Sylvie Camus Method and Device for Accessing a Sim Card Housed in a Mobile Terminal
US20080299904A1 (en) * 2007-06-04 2008-12-04 Seagate Technology Llc Wireless communication system
US20090265552A1 (en) * 2008-03-28 2009-10-22 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for secure short messaging service and multimedia messaging service
US20100042954A1 (en) * 2008-08-12 2010-02-18 Apple Inc. Motion based input selection
US20100074627A1 (en) * 2005-06-07 2010-03-25 Yuan Chen Interference-Rejection Coding Method For An Optical Wireless Communication System And The Optical Wireless Communication System Thereof
EP2169925A1 (en) 2008-09-26 2010-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Portable terminal that receives contents from a counterpart device in a close proximity wireless communication system
US20100217660A1 (en) * 2009-02-24 2010-08-26 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Context-induced wireless network transport for content and profile information
US20100253507A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2010-10-07 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US7848703B1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2010-12-07 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Method and apparatus for binding wireless devices
US7920851B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2011-04-05 Celltrust Corporation Secure mobile information management system and method
US20110105021A1 (en) * 2008-06-23 2011-05-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Communication apparatus, method for controlling communication apparatus,and program
US8121295B1 (en) 2008-03-28 2012-02-21 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Method, apparatus, and system for controlling playout of media
US8126400B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2012-02-28 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Method for an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US8140013B1 (en) 2003-06-04 2012-03-20 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Wireless communication device and method
US8195106B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2012-06-05 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US8326560B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2012-12-04 Kyocera Corporation Portable electronic apparatus and geomagnetism sensor calibration method
US8538331B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2013-09-17 The Invention Science Fund I, LC Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US8655271B2 (en) 2006-05-10 2014-02-18 Sony Corporation System and method for storing near field communication tags in an electronic phonebook
US20140082676A1 (en) * 2011-04-26 2014-03-20 Peter Barowski Interface For Wireless Data Transmission In A Motor Vehicle, And Computer Program Product
US9294638B2 (en) 2013-09-11 2016-03-22 Ricoh Company, Limited Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
US9432800B1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2016-08-30 Ge Yi Wireless near field communication system
US9572033B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2017-02-14 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for encrypted mobile voice communications
US20170118076A1 (en) * 2013-01-30 2017-04-27 Dell Products L.P. Information Handling System Physical Component Inventory To Aid Operational Management Through Near Field Communication Device Interaction
US20170237467A1 (en) * 2014-10-17 2017-08-17 Gambro Lundia Ab Method for providing operation data to a fluid processing medical apparatus using a medical accessory and a medical accessory
US20170354867A1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2017-12-14 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10158795B2 (en) 2012-12-27 2018-12-18 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus for communicating with another apparatus
US10339474B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2019-07-02 Modern Geographia, Llc Real-time carpooling coordinating system and methods
US10335675B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2019-07-02 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10441878B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2019-10-15 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10445799B2 (en) 2004-09-30 2019-10-15 Uber Technologies, Inc. Supply-chain side assistance
US10458801B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2019-10-29 Uber Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for travel planning that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit
US10514816B2 (en) 2004-12-01 2019-12-24 Uber Technologies, Inc. Enhanced user assistance
US10657468B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2020-05-19 Uber Technologies, Inc. System and methods for verifying that one or more directives that direct transport of a second end user does not conflict with one or more obligations to transport a first end user
US10687166B2 (en) 2004-09-30 2020-06-16 Uber Technologies, Inc. Obtaining user assistance
US10789594B2 (en) 2013-01-31 2020-09-29 Moshir Vantures, Limited, LLC Method and system to intelligently assess and mitigate security risks on a mobile device
US10835811B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2020-11-17 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10864436B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2020-12-15 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US11100434B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2021-08-24 Uber Technologies, Inc. Real-time carpooling coordinating system and methods
US11558537B1 (en) * 2012-06-01 2023-01-17 SeeScan, Inc. Video inspection system with wireless enabled cable storage drum

Families Citing this family (62)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10535049B2 (en) 2003-03-21 2020-01-14 Paypal, Inc. Payment transactions via substantially instant communication system
US7597250B2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2009-10-06 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID reader with multiple interfaces
US7762470B2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2010-07-27 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID token with multiple interface controller
US20050149732A1 (en) 2004-01-07 2005-07-07 Microsoft Corporation Use of static Diffie-Hellman key with IPSec for authentication
US7747797B2 (en) 2004-09-28 2010-06-29 Microsoft Corporation Mass storage device with near field communications
US7748636B2 (en) * 2004-11-16 2010-07-06 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. Portable identity card reader system for physical and logical access
US20060229998A1 (en) 2005-03-31 2006-10-12 Mark Harrison Payment via financial service provider using network-based device
JP4845411B2 (en) * 2005-03-31 2011-12-28 キヤノン株式会社 COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM
JP2007005967A (en) * 2005-06-22 2007-01-11 Sharp Corp Communication device and communication system
JP5017811B2 (en) 2005-07-19 2012-09-05 ソニー株式会社 Data transmission system, data acquisition device, data acquisition method, data storage device, data transmission method, and program thereof
JP4378643B2 (en) * 2005-08-01 2009-12-09 ソニー株式会社 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM
FR2890207B1 (en) † 2005-08-23 2007-11-02 Inside Contactless Sa INDUCTIVE COUPLING READER COMPRISING MEANS FOR EXTRACTING AN ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE
JP4603984B2 (en) * 2006-01-12 2010-12-22 キヤノン株式会社 COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND ITS CONTROL METHOD
US20090166421A1 (en) * 2006-02-15 2009-07-02 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd Rfid reader / card combination to convert a contact smartcard reader to contactless
US9489109B2 (en) * 2006-03-30 2016-11-08 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication Ab Data communication in an electronic device
GB0610227D0 (en) * 2006-05-23 2006-07-05 Innovision Res & Tech Plc Near field rf communicators and near field communications enabled devices
EP2078238A2 (en) * 2006-06-23 2009-07-15 Nxp B.V. Nfc enabled pointing with a mobile device
ES2570191T3 (en) * 2006-09-05 2016-05-17 Alcatel Lucent Smart device and user terminal that has a short-range interface and long-range interface
US8149799B2 (en) * 2006-09-29 2012-04-03 Broadcom Corporation Method and system for interfacing to a plurality of antennas
KR100769540B1 (en) 2006-10-09 2007-10-23 충북대학교 산학협력단 Double structured loop-antenna of rfid tag and reader & near field communication system using the same
US9670694B2 (en) * 2007-04-12 2017-06-06 Utc Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. Restricted range lockbox, access device and methods
JP5033532B2 (en) * 2007-07-30 2012-09-26 京セラ株式会社 Communication terminal
EP2218238A1 (en) * 2007-12-07 2010-08-18 Nokia Corporation Transaction authentication
JP4535163B2 (en) * 2008-04-08 2010-09-01 ソニー株式会社 Information processing system, communication terminal, information processing apparatus, and program
JP5541648B2 (en) * 2008-06-30 2014-07-09 キヤノン株式会社 Wireless communication apparatus, control method, and program
JP5159474B2 (en) * 2008-06-30 2013-03-06 キヤノン株式会社 COMMUNICATION DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM
US8740073B2 (en) * 2008-08-01 2014-06-03 Mastercard International Incorporated Methods, systems and computer readable media for storing and redeeming electronic certificates using a wireless smart card
JP4670917B2 (en) * 2008-08-20 2011-04-13 ソニー株式会社 COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, PROGRAM, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
US8351854B2 (en) 2008-09-30 2013-01-08 Research In Motion Limited Mobile wireless communications device having touch activated near field communications (NFC) circuit
EP2169924B1 (en) 2008-09-30 2011-09-07 Research In Motion Limited Mobile wireless communications device having touch activated near field communications (NFC) circuit
JP5164797B2 (en) * 2008-11-05 2013-03-21 キヤノン株式会社 Wireless transmission / reception device, mode setting method thereof, and program
US8902073B2 (en) * 2009-02-10 2014-12-02 Cubic Corporation Smartcard protection device
US8199683B2 (en) * 2009-06-08 2012-06-12 Telcordia Technologies, Inc. Full-duplex wireless communication using a single transmitter
JP4676014B2 (en) * 2009-06-30 2011-04-27 株式会社東芝 Information processing apparatus and capture image transfer processing method
US20110076951A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Information processing apparatus
JP2011124877A (en) * 2009-12-11 2011-06-23 Toshiba Corp Electronic apparatus and fixed control method
CN101893442B (en) * 2010-03-09 2015-11-25 宇龙计算机通信科技(深圳)有限公司 A kind of method of location navigation, terminal and system
JP5375738B2 (en) 2010-05-18 2013-12-25 ソニー株式会社 Signal transmission system
DE102010033901B4 (en) 2010-08-10 2022-03-17 Volkswagen Ag Motor vehicle with a display for showing variable information for operating functions of the motor vehicle
DE102011009213B4 (en) 2010-08-10 2021-12-23 Volkswagen Ag Motor vehicle with a telephone control
DE102010033883B4 (en) 2010-08-10 2021-12-23 Volkswagen Ag Method for data transfer between a mobile device and a motor vehicle
US8068011B1 (en) 2010-08-27 2011-11-29 Q Street, LLC System and method for interactive user-directed interfacing between handheld devices and RFID media
JP2012080447A (en) * 2010-10-05 2012-04-19 Fujitsu Ltd Electronic device, power source control program, and power source control method
JP5106615B2 (en) * 2010-11-09 2012-12-26 株式会社東芝 Information processing device
JP4734481B2 (en) * 2011-01-19 2011-07-27 株式会社東芝 Capture image transfer processing method
DE102011013761A1 (en) 2011-03-12 2012-09-13 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Method for operating motor vehicle i.e. motor car, involves automatically initializing Bluetooth type communication link by shock sensor according to unique knocking of mobile telephone against motor vehicle at predetermined area
JP5670798B2 (en) * 2011-03-30 2015-02-18 フェリカネットワークス株式会社 Communication terminal, communication method, and program
JP5023227B2 (en) * 2011-04-13 2012-09-12 株式会社東芝 Information processing apparatus and capture image acquisition method
US8538333B2 (en) 2011-12-16 2013-09-17 Arbitron Inc. Media exposure linking utilizing bluetooth signal characteristics
US8977194B2 (en) 2011-12-16 2015-03-10 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Media exposure and verification utilizing inductive coupling
US9219968B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2015-12-22 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc. Methods and systems to monitor a media device using a digital audio signal
EP2626812A1 (en) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 Research In Motion Limited Near field communication (NFC) accessory providing enhanced data transfer features and related methods
US8880028B2 (en) 2012-02-08 2014-11-04 Blackberry Limited Near field communication (NFC) accessory providing enhanced data transfer features and related methods
US8965800B2 (en) 2012-03-09 2015-02-24 Mastercard International Incorporated Systems, methods, and computer readable media for conducting an electronic transaction via a backend server system
US9496744B2 (en) * 2012-12-20 2016-11-15 Intel Corporation Wireless charging optimization utilizing an NFC module that detects induced current and provides an indication of induced current
US9426525B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2016-08-23 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc. Methods and apparatus to count people in an audience
KR102099705B1 (en) 2014-03-14 2020-04-10 삼성전자주식회사 Near field communication devices and electronic systems having the same
KR20150108546A (en) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-30 (주)휴맥스 personalization service method and system in television linkage wireless terminal
JP2016010117A (en) 2014-06-26 2016-01-18 カシオ計算機株式会社 Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program
CN104754492B (en) * 2015-02-13 2019-01-22 努比亚技术有限公司 NFC information remote backup method and terminal
CN104615937B (en) * 2015-02-13 2019-09-24 联想(北京)有限公司 A kind of information processing method and mobile terminal
WO2018088932A1 (en) * 2016-11-10 2018-05-17 Акционерное общество "Концерн воздушно-космической обороны "Алмаз-Антей" Digital transmitting module

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5619192A (en) * 1994-06-14 1997-04-08 Logicon, Inc. Apparatus and method for reading utility meters
US20020078363A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2002-06-20 Hill Richard A. Apparatus and method for gathering and utilizing data
US20030028814A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-02-06 Carta David R. Smart card access control system
US6564056B1 (en) * 1999-08-03 2003-05-13 Avaya Technology Corp. Intelligent device controller
US20030126593A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2003-07-03 Mault James R. Interactive physiological monitoring system
US20030133153A1 (en) * 2002-01-11 2003-07-17 Takashi Shinoda Method and system for checking an original recorded information
US20040127256A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2004-07-01 Scott Goldthwaite Mobile device equipped with a contactless smart card reader/writer
US6915422B1 (en) * 1999-06-23 2005-07-05 Namco Ltd. Personal identification system
US7075411B2 (en) * 1996-04-01 2006-07-11 Cubic Corporation Smart card fast-clamping receiver for pulsed RF fields

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04235624A (en) 1991-01-11 1992-08-24 Canon Inc Information processor
JP3218716B2 (en) 1992-07-31 2001-10-15 ソニー株式会社 Input device and input system
JPH0816739A (en) * 1994-06-24 1996-01-19 Tokimec Inc Data processor using reader, writer and data carrier
US5724417A (en) * 1995-09-11 1998-03-03 Lucent Technologies Inc. Call forwarding techniques using smart cards
US5943624A (en) 1996-07-15 1999-08-24 Motorola, Inc. Contactless smartcard for use in cellular telephone
CN2303334Y (en) * 1997-06-03 1999-01-06 何焯辉 IC card's shell having receiving and storage function with infrared rays transmission
JP3185766B2 (en) * 1998-07-29 2001-07-11 日本電気株式会社 Sending and receiving card
GB9912559D0 (en) 1999-05-28 1999-07-28 Fusion Meters Ltd Meter reader
JP2001117162A (en) 1999-10-22 2001-04-27 Minolta Co Ltd Equipment provided with remote control device
JP4788042B2 (en) 2001-01-16 2011-10-05 大日本印刷株式会社 Advertising billboard and display medium with RF-ID tag
JP4728492B2 (en) 2001-03-07 2011-07-20 シャープ株式会社 Method of using portable information terminal with RFID communication function
JP2003060559A (en) * 2001-08-16 2003-02-28 Nec Access Technica Ltd Radio communication system having change/update function of data
CN1417696A (en) * 2001-11-05 2003-05-14 天瀚科技股份有限公司 Portable electronic equipment
JP3719659B2 (en) * 2001-12-26 2005-11-24 株式会社日立製作所 Information receiving system and information receiving terminal
JP2003309791A (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-31 Toshiba Corp Storage device and data writing control method therefor
US20040051368A1 (en) * 2002-09-17 2004-03-18 Jimmy Caputo Systems and methods for programming pumps
CN1167207C (en) * 2002-12-31 2004-09-15 艾威梯软件技术(北京)有限公司 Method of establishing blue-teeth connection between blue-teeth equipments

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5619192A (en) * 1994-06-14 1997-04-08 Logicon, Inc. Apparatus and method for reading utility meters
US7075411B2 (en) * 1996-04-01 2006-07-11 Cubic Corporation Smart card fast-clamping receiver for pulsed RF fields
US6915422B1 (en) * 1999-06-23 2005-07-05 Namco Ltd. Personal identification system
US6564056B1 (en) * 1999-08-03 2003-05-13 Avaya Technology Corp. Intelligent device controller
US20020078363A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2002-06-20 Hill Richard A. Apparatus and method for gathering and utilizing data
US20030028814A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-02-06 Carta David R. Smart card access control system
US20030133153A1 (en) * 2002-01-11 2003-07-17 Takashi Shinoda Method and system for checking an original recorded information
US20040127256A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2004-07-01 Scott Goldthwaite Mobile device equipped with a contactless smart card reader/writer
US20030126593A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2003-07-03 Mault James R. Interactive physiological monitoring system

Cited By (91)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8140013B1 (en) 2003-06-04 2012-03-20 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Wireless communication device and method
US10445799B2 (en) 2004-09-30 2019-10-15 Uber Technologies, Inc. Supply-chain side assistance
US10687166B2 (en) 2004-09-30 2020-06-16 Uber Technologies, Inc. Obtaining user assistance
US10872365B2 (en) 2004-09-30 2020-12-22 Uber Technologies, Inc. Supply-chain side assistance
US10514816B2 (en) 2004-12-01 2019-12-24 Uber Technologies, Inc. Enhanced user assistance
US8442437B1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2013-05-14 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Method and apparatus for binding wireless devices
US7848703B1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2010-12-07 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Method and apparatus for binding wireless devices
US20080285755A1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2008-11-20 Sylvie Camus Method and Device for Accessing a Sim Card Housed in a Mobile Terminal
US20100074627A1 (en) * 2005-06-07 2010-03-25 Yuan Chen Interference-Rejection Coding Method For An Optical Wireless Communication System And The Optical Wireless Communication System Thereof
US20070055633A1 (en) * 2005-09-08 2007-03-08 Sung-Rock Cheon Secure NFC apparatus and method supporting various security modules in plug-in fashion
US8209754B2 (en) * 2005-09-08 2012-06-26 Sk Telecom Co., Ltd. Secure NFC apparatus and method supporting various security modules in plug-in fashion
US7468702B2 (en) 2005-09-15 2008-12-23 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device with integrated antenna
US7333062B2 (en) 2005-09-15 2008-02-19 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device with integrated antenna
US20070057852A1 (en) * 2005-09-15 2007-03-15 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device with integrated antenna
US20080055167A1 (en) * 2005-09-15 2008-03-06 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device with integrated antenna
US8718554B2 (en) * 2006-02-15 2014-05-06 Microsoft Corporation Means for provisioning and managing mobile device configuration over a near-field communication link
US20070190939A1 (en) * 2006-02-15 2007-08-16 Microsoft Corporation Means for provisioning and managing mobile device configuration over a near-field communication link
US20070203968A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2007-08-30 Searete, Llc Portable device and method for entertainment interaction data
US8208850B2 (en) 2006-02-24 2012-06-26 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Portable device and method for entertainment interaction data
US20070218837A1 (en) * 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Data communication in an electronic device
US8538331B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2013-09-17 The Invention Science Fund I, LC Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US8358976B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2013-01-22 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US8126400B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2012-02-28 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Method for an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US11012552B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2021-05-18 Uber Technologies, Inc. Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US7725077B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2010-05-25 The Invention Science Fund 1, Llc Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US20100253507A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2010-10-07 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US10681199B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2020-06-09 Uber Technologies, Inc. Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US9621701B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2017-04-11 Searete Llc Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US20070224937A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices
US8180293B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2012-05-15 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US20070224939A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US8326560B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2012-12-04 Kyocera Corporation Portable electronic apparatus and geomagnetism sensor calibration method
US8655271B2 (en) 2006-05-10 2014-02-18 Sony Corporation System and method for storing near field communication tags in an electronic phonebook
US20080167060A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-07-10 Sean Moshir Distribution of lottery tickets through mobile devices
US9572033B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2017-02-14 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for encrypted mobile voice communications
US20080081601A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-04-03 Sean Moshir Dissemination of real estate information through text messaging
US9154612B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2015-10-06 Celltrust Corporation Secure mobile information management system and method
US20110151903A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2011-06-23 Celltrust Corporation Secure mobile information management system and method
US20080108324A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-05-08 Sean Moshir Methods of authorizing actions
US20110145564A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2011-06-16 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for secure short messaging service and multimedia messaging service
US8965416B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2015-02-24 Celltrust Corporation Distribution of lottery tickets through mobile devices
US8225380B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2012-07-17 Celltrust Corporation Methods to authenticate access and alarm as to proximity to location
US8260274B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2012-09-04 Celltrust Corporation Extraction of information from e-mails and delivery to mobile phones, system and method
US8280359B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2012-10-02 Celltrust Corporation Methods of authorizing actions
US7920851B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2011-04-05 Celltrust Corporation Secure mobile information management system and method
US9848081B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2017-12-19 Celltrust Corporation Dissemination of real estate information through text messaging
US8862129B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2014-10-14 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for encrypted mobile voice communications
US20080109370A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-05-08 Moshir Kevin K Extraction of information from e-mails and delivery to mobile phones, system and method
US9680803B2 (en) 2006-05-25 2017-06-13 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for secure short messaging service and multimedia messaging service
US20080133930A1 (en) * 2006-05-25 2008-06-05 Moshir Kevin K Methods to authenticate access and alarm as to proximity to location
US8195106B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2012-06-05 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
US8102797B2 (en) 2006-08-17 2012-01-24 Microsoft Corporation Web format-based wireless communications
US20080046570A1 (en) * 2006-08-17 2008-02-21 Microsoft Corporation Web format-based wireless communications
US8108684B2 (en) 2006-10-12 2012-01-31 Honeywell International Inc. Method and system for controlling a security system using near field communication
US20080092230A1 (en) * 2006-10-12 2008-04-17 Addy Kenneth L Method and system for controlling a security system using near field communication
US20080214111A1 (en) * 2007-03-02 2008-09-04 Celltrust Corporation Lost phone alarm system and method
US20080299904A1 (en) * 2007-06-04 2008-12-04 Seagate Technology Llc Wireless communication system
US8121295B1 (en) 2008-03-28 2012-02-21 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Method, apparatus, and system for controlling playout of media
US20090265552A1 (en) * 2008-03-28 2009-10-22 Celltrust Corporation Systems and methods for secure short messaging service and multimedia messaging service
US20110105021A1 (en) * 2008-06-23 2011-05-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Communication apparatus, method for controlling communication apparatus,and program
US8761670B2 (en) 2008-06-23 2014-06-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Communication apparatus, method for controlling communication apparatus, and program
US20100042954A1 (en) * 2008-08-12 2010-02-18 Apple Inc. Motion based input selection
EP2169925A1 (en) 2008-09-26 2010-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Portable terminal that receives contents from a counterpart device in a close proximity wireless communication system
US20100217660A1 (en) * 2009-02-24 2010-08-26 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Context-induced wireless network transport for content and profile information
US8554615B2 (en) * 2009-02-24 2013-10-08 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Context-induced wireless network transport for content and profile information
US9560387B2 (en) * 2011-04-26 2017-01-31 Continental Automotive Gmbh Interface for wireless data transmission in a motor vehicle, and computer program product
US20140082676A1 (en) * 2011-04-26 2014-03-20 Peter Barowski Interface For Wireless Data Transmission In A Motor Vehicle, And Computer Program Product
US11558537B1 (en) * 2012-06-01 2023-01-17 SeeScan, Inc. Video inspection system with wireless enabled cable storage drum
US10158795B2 (en) 2012-12-27 2018-12-18 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus for communicating with another apparatus
US11336522B2 (en) * 2013-01-30 2022-05-17 Dell Products L.P. Information handling system physical component inventory to aid operational management through near field communication device interaction
US20170118076A1 (en) * 2013-01-30 2017-04-27 Dell Products L.P. Information Handling System Physical Component Inventory To Aid Operational Management Through Near Field Communication Device Interaction
US10789594B2 (en) 2013-01-31 2020-09-29 Moshir Vantures, Limited, LLC Method and system to intelligently assess and mitigate security risks on a mobile device
US9294638B2 (en) 2013-09-11 2016-03-22 Ricoh Company, Limited Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
US11100434B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2021-08-24 Uber Technologies, Inc. Real-time carpooling coordinating system and methods
US10339474B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2019-07-02 Modern Geographia, Llc Real-time carpooling coordinating system and methods
US10657468B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2020-05-19 Uber Technologies, Inc. System and methods for verifying that one or more directives that direct transport of a second end user does not conflict with one or more obligations to transport a first end user
US10458801B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2019-10-29 Uber Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for travel planning that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit
US11669785B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2023-06-06 Uber Technologies, Inc. System and methods for verifying that one or more directives that direct transport of a second end user does not conflict with one or more obligations to transport a first end user
US11466993B2 (en) 2014-05-06 2022-10-11 Uber Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for travel planning that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit
US20170237467A1 (en) * 2014-10-17 2017-08-17 Gambro Lundia Ab Method for providing operation data to a fluid processing medical apparatus using a medical accessory and a medical accessory
US10218411B2 (en) * 2014-10-17 2019-02-26 Gambro Lundia Ab Method for providing operation data to a fluid processing medical apparatus using a medical accessory
US9432800B1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2016-08-30 Ge Yi Wireless near field communication system
US10441878B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2019-10-15 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10335675B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2019-07-02 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US11224800B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2022-01-18 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US20170354867A1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2017-12-14 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US11400365B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2022-08-02 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10864436B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2020-12-15 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10835811B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2020-11-17 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US10456669B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2019-10-29 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
US11826641B2 (en) 2016-06-10 2023-11-28 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004012490T2 (en) 2009-04-23
EP1501038B1 (en) 2008-03-19
US7522879B2 (en) 2009-04-21
DE602004030729D1 (en) 2011-02-03
EP1901203B1 (en) 2010-12-22
DE602004012490D1 (en) 2008-04-30
JP2005045557A (en) 2005-02-17
EP1901203A1 (en) 2008-03-19
EP1501038A1 (en) 2005-01-26
CN1578185B (en) 2010-05-26
US20070232232A1 (en) 2007-10-04
US7248834B2 (en) 2007-07-24
CN1578185A (en) 2005-02-09
HK1070758A1 (en) 2005-06-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7248834B2 (en) Communication apparatus
EP2022178B1 (en) Data communication in an electronic device
KR101389208B1 (en) Data communication in an electronic device
EP2264990B1 (en) Information processing apparatus and information processing method having communication function
KR101057896B1 (en) Information communication system, information communication apparatus, information communication method, and recording medium
US9301337B2 (en) Near field communication (NFC) device as an initiator to high data rate communication
US7997480B2 (en) Data communication system, device for executing IC card function, control method for the device, and information processing terminal
WO2006025229A1 (en) Semiconductor integrated circuit and wireless communication device
US20090221232A1 (en) Portable Telephone With Unitary Transceiver Having Cellular and RFID Functionality
JP2007329859A (en) Portable-type electronic apparatus, and functional setting change method for the portable-type electronic apparatus
JP2005333169A (en) Wireless communication system and wireless communication device
JP2008158937A (en) Power supply tap and cellular phone service system
US20220368374A1 (en) Near-field communication device
JP3377138B2 (en) IC card system, IC card, data carrier and host terminal
KR20060060189A (en) Method for sending data by using nfc in mobile phone
KR20050088125A (en) Storage unit comprising a main data carrier and a contactless chip
JPH05300144A (en) Personal communication terminal equipment
JP2008003889A (en) Information processing apparatus
JPH08316895A (en) Contactless data carrier system
Walko A ticket to ride [near field communications]
JP2008059524A (en) Rfid reader/writer device, rfid reader/writer control method and rfid reader/writer control program
KR20100086348A (en) Method for providing conference system and communication terminal for the conference system
Principal NFC: A review of technology, tags, applications and security
JP2003140831A (en) Input device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SONY CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MATSUO, TAKASHI;FUJII, KUNIHIDE;SAKAMOTO, KAZUYUKI;REEL/FRAME:016019/0986

Effective date: 20041101

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 12

AS Assignment

Owner name: SISVEL INTERNATIONAL S.A., LUXEMBOURG

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SONY CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:056177/0505

Effective date: 20210322